The cultural dimension of peace murals

Already at the ECCM Symposium "Productivity of Culture" held in Athens 2007, the recommendation was made to connect European Capitals of Culture and Kids' Guernica - Guernica Youth.

Sidanski noted in particular the dialogue depicted in the Nepal mural done by children from the city doing a painting together with children from a village at the foothills of the Himalayas is something in need to be taken into consideration within Europe. As advisor to Barrosso, President of the European Commission until 2014, it had a certain impact.

Efforts were made to link up with future ECoCs at that time:

- in 2010 with Istanbul, Ruhr and Pecs being three cities with the title, thought was given on how to build on a triangle linking them

- first Sonderborg 2017 responded but then hesistated to join preparatory work while Wroclaw 2016 and San Sebastian 2016 did pick up the idea and made a Kids' Guernica - Guernica Youth an integral part of their bid for the title. By conjoining this action the two cities may have been able to demonstrate a more convincing linkage to the Jury than the other cities competing at that time for the title.

- since then intensive contact has been taken up with Valletta in Malta ever since Paul Dalli and Gertrude Spiteri for the DAVID Review project evaluated the Kids' Guerncia - Guernica Youth project in terms of contribution to 'social literacy'.